World War II Memorial: A commemoration to freedom and peace
The World War II memorial was a long-overdue project that was authorized by President Clinton in 1993, broke ground in 2001 and was open to the public in 2004.
Located across the street from the Washington Monument and in front of the Reflecting Pool, the memorial is a grand plaza of marble, with tributes to every state and territory inscribed on 56 granite pillars adorned with oak and wheat bronze wreaths. In the middle is the Rainbow Pool with a fantastic fountain that sprays as soon as the weather warms up.
The memorial was designed by Rhode Island architect Friedrich St. Florian, who won in an open competition. It honors the 16 million who served in the United States armed forces during the war, as well as the more than 400,000 who died and millions who supported its effort from home.
The memorial also stands for the commitment of the American people to defend its nation and inspire peace and freedom from tyranny for future generations, as demonstrated by those who fought for such things during World War II.
Entrances to the memorial plaza are two 43-foot pavilions, with four bronze columns and four American eagles. A WWII victory medal on the floor is surrounded by the years “1941-1945” and the words “Victory on Land," "Victory at Sea," and "Victory in the Air."
A Freedom Wall features 4,000 gold stars in honor of the 400,000 who died for the United States. The gold star represented family sacrifice during World War II.
A series of 24 bas-reliefs by sculptor Ray Kaskey illustrate significant events or mobilization efforts by Americans for the war. Twelve depict efforts from the Pacific front while the other 12 show the Atlantic front. Events or efforts include Pearl Harbor, Battle of the Bulge, V-J Day, Women in the Military, Enlistment and Shipbuilding, among others.
HelloMetro Tip: There is an interesting online teachers guide that can be downloaded free and is useful for anyone planning to visit the memorial. Access these PDF files by clicking here.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
